Chương 19: Chapter 17: Escape
Sitio Maday-as, Sibalu
Sibalu Province, Bisaya Region
July 5, 1982 C.Y.
2000 Hours
That evening when the coast is clear, Feliciano opened the gates of his garage and started the engine. He switched the headlights of his car to high beam and left. He navigated through the dirt road which was lighted by his car. He was driving fast expecting to arrive on time to meet his contact to the port.
That afternoon, Feliciano contacted one his friends through phone. He arranged in secret a way out of the island to the province of Sugbu. His friend complied immediately knowing of the pay that Feliciano is willing to give him in exchange.
Feliciano drove fast in attempt to catch his friend waiting for him at the port in time. The light of the full moon guides him in his way. He drives fast racing through time before he could be caught by Roman and his men. Oblivious of what awaits for him in his destination.
Meanwhile back in the village, Roman and his men formed search parties around the village. Looking for Feliciano's whereabouts. His fears of his friend escaping indeed happened. He cannot risk his only close friend get away. At he same time he feared for his safety as lawless elements lurk in the darkness awaiting for their prey.
"Ka-Roman! We found a clue where Feliciano may have gone to!" A villager told Roman who looks uneasy.
"He is planning to go to Sugbu at the port. He is heading there!"
Roman looks pale and orders his best men to come with him and take a truck to catch up with Feliciano.
"That fool, does he intend to get himself kidnapped!?" Roman said in his mind.
Roman took at least twenty five of his men and boarded a truck to the port. He heard of rumors of gatherings of pirates in the area. Roman's group may have control with the surrounding rebel groups in the island. However, bandits and pirates are different. He disgusts with their kind and does not wish to associate himself with them.
While Feliciano was racing himself to the port. A group of armed men was trailing him in the shadows. They sent signals and contacted their contacts through radio about the lone car that is racing to the port at the time of the night.
"Racer confirmed... port, destination, over!"
"Roger, roger! Confirmed... Fish bait ready!"
"Received over!"
The man in the radio said covers himself in the darkness of the surroundings as the light of Feliciano's car headlights passes by.
"He's heading to port!"
"Prey confirmed!"
"Over, out!"
Feliciano is not aware of the ambush that is waiting for him at the port. His friend that is waiting for him has already been killed. They hijacked the boat and are waiting for him inside. When he arrived, Feliciano grabbed his revolver and hid it in his pouch. With him are his papers and his cash that is inside a huge bag.
"At last, I can get out of here!" Feliciano hurriedly raced to the boat after leaving his car in front of the port.
The area is dimly lighted by two lamp posts. There are no one in sight and only the boat which is friend had taken is the only boat that is docked in the port. He then takes a flash light and signaled the boat but there was no response.
"Guerrero, it's me!" Feliciano frustratingly signaled with his flashlight to the cabin.
There was no reply from the bridge and he became suspicious of the manner. Suddenly Feliciano heard of people that are talking from the entrance of the port. He turned off his flashlight and observed his surroundings. He hid himself behind a crate inside the warehouse of the port.
"He should be around here somewhere!" One of the armed men said.
"That's strange, the trap is in place. Where could he be?"
"Search for him!" One of the armed men said and ordered his men to scramble to look for Feliciano who is hiding in the warehouse.
"What now? I never thought that pirates would be here! What should I do!?" Feliciano said to himself with his heart racing in his chest.
He knows that him alone surviving in this situation would be futile. These men are armed to the teeth. Knowing that he doesn't have the money to at least spare him, they may feed him to the sharks. The pirates around the area are known to be ruthless especially if you do not give them what they want.
"What can a revolver do against their long rifles?" Feliciano asked himself and tries to aim the barrel of his gun in his head.
"There's no escaping this." He said and closed his eyes with the finger on the trigger of his gun.
"Goodbye everyone... my life may have been turbulent. But I did had fun." He said.
"Three..." He hears a step closing towards him.
"Two..." He firmly grasps the handle of the gun.
"One..." He decides to finally pull the trigger until.
Bang!
The gunshot seemed to have come from outside. Feliciano's determination was broken and threw away his gun in front of him. His hands is shaking and shivers in fear.
"If that would have my gun I would be dead by now!"
Hearing the gunshot that came from outside of the port. The armed men in the pier suddenly dispersed and took cover.
"Who was that?" One of the armed men said.
"Check it out!" A reluctant armed man was ordered and went forward from hiding.
With his eyes adjusted through the light of the moon he saw is friend one of their comrades shot in the head. The armed man almost puked and faced back and shouted.
"Man down!"
He shouted and fell down as a thud from his head followed by a gunshot rang in the surroundings.
"They are near! Retaliate, men shoot anything that move!"
Both sides trade fire as Roman's men picked on the pirates one by one. The pirates just sprayed in the darkness hoping that they could hit any of their enemies. None of Roman's men had been hit and are advancing towards Feliciano's position.
"They're good! What faction could they be?" An armed man who is hiding beyond the crate asked his friend beside him.
"Who knows? Maybe it could be Roman Villamor's!?" He replies and got shot in the head.
"No, I surrender. Spare me!" The armed man throw away his gun and raised his both arms in the air.
"Don't take prisoners!" Roman whispered to one of his men who shot the pirate.
Behind the crate, Feliciano went out from hiding with his arms raised in the air. "I give up!"
He said, shaking and peed on his pants.
"Welcome back my friend!" Roman hugs Feliciano and persuaded him to return to the village.
"Why would you come back to help me?" Feliciano asked his friend.
"You are a friend of mine. I do not wish to loose one anymore!" Roman said to him.
From that day on, Feliciano decided to join Roman Villamor's group. He became one of the well known figures in the revolution that sparked three years after his joining. From that day on, he is known as "Ka-Felix" which was known as codename Owl. Leader of the group's "Night Hunters" based from his experience that night which becomes his inspiration in forming the group.
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